Davis seeks to reassure police

Says budgeting could save jobs

Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis.

One day after the Globe reported the possibility of 200 Boston police layoffs, Commissioner Edward F. Davis attempted to reassure nervous union officials and employees with an e-mail that stated no firm decision has been made to cut the workforce.

In a three-paragraph e-mail to the department, Davis said that officials are working hard to reduce costs so they can avoid layoffs.

"At this time I want to be clear that no decision has been made to proceed with layoffs," he wrote. "Any suggestion to the contrary is premature."

The last time the department faced layoffs was in 1981, when more than 260 officers were dismissed. Yesterday, the Globe reported that 200 uniformed officers could be laid off if the department is forced to cut its budget by 7 percent, as city officials have instructed, according to two public officials briefed on the budget deliberations. Also facing potential layoffs are city teachers and firefighters. Edward Kelly, president of Local 718, which represents the city's firefighters, declined to comment.

The two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, warned that the Police Department cannot avoid significant layoffs if it is forced to make such deep budget cuts.

In his e-mail yesterday, Davis said the department is waiting for the state to provide more information about what kind of funding cuts the city might see.

Earlier this week, Governor Deval Patrick warned there could be more budget cuts in the current fiscal year - $1 billion on top of the $1.4 billion he has been forced to slash.

Miller Thomas, president of the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society, said he is not panicking.

"I certainly don't advise any of my own members to panic," he said. "It's still preliminary. They're using worst-case scenarios. . . . They know there are budgetary hard times coming. We have to prepare for it."

But Thomas Nee, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, said members of his union have been calling him all day.

"It's sobering," Nee said. "It's reflecting what's going on in the world."

Nee said that he has tried to reassure members by telling them that layoffs would be an "extreme" example of what could happen if the economy continues to worsen.

"These are very challenging times and we're more than aware of what could happen. But it hasn't yet, and we're all working hard to make sure that it doesn't," he said.

Both Thomas and Nee said they are hopeful the Obama administration will provide more federal aid to police departments than the current administration has done in the last eight years.

Davis expressed the same hope in an interview with the Globe Wednesday night and in his e-mail.

"We're hoping that public safety will be recognized as a serious and literally life-saving proposition for the Commonwealth," he said during the interview.

Layoffs could mean the 29 police recruits currently in the academy could be let go when they graduate in May. The rest of the layoffs would have to come from the ranks of department's 2,241 officers, which includes the 37 recruits who joined the force in November. Laying off 200 officers could wipe out the hiring efforts made since 2005, when the city's homicide rate reached a 10-year high of 75.

Davis declined to comment yesterday through a spokeswoman, Elaine Driscoll, or say whether there were any layoffs proposed in the draft budget he was scheduled to submit to Mayor Thomas M. Menino on Thursday.

"Because it is a draft he is not going to discuss any details," said Driscoll, who provided a copy of the e-mailed memo to the Globe. The memo promised to keep employees informed.

"Our officers and civilians will be immediately notified when and if cuts are necessary," Davis wrote. "Thank you for all your hard working during these uncertain times."

Maria Cramer can be reached at mcramer@globe.com.